BBC studio shows rule....they emote Austin Powers at his peak. Belle and Sebastian can really bring it....one of the more unique bands, a sound that distinct and a good deal of fun. Plus, they are absolutely enormous in Scotland. In January 2005, B&S was voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by The List, beating Simple Minds, Idlewild, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, and The Proclaimers, among others (source: Wiki). Go Stuarts!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Tom Waits - Waltzing Matilda
No matter how many times I listen to a Tom Waits song, it amazes me to hear THAT voice come from THAT man. His voice was once described as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months and then taken outside and run over with a car."
This gem is from '77 and the quality is great.
This gem is from '77 and the quality is great.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Otis, My Man
Just an incredible performance... builds as it goes, gets better every time a new instrument joins the party. The best part is, with just about a minute left he takes off and leaves the stage and then runs back on and finishes the song, successfully completing the quickest encore of all time. This entire time the crowd is attempting to rush the stage. Good times.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Springsteen - Candy's Room
The description places this show in Passaic circa 1978...right around the time Bruce & E Street released Darkness On The Edge Of Town. I don't think there's ever been a bad time to see Springsteen live but, watching this clip, you can't help but wish there was a way to take a time machine back to Jersey in the late 70's...
I mean, let's say, for the sake of argument, this was the September 19th show from '78. Here's your setlist:
1) Badlands
2) Streets Of Fire
3) Spirit In The Night
4) Darkness On The Edge Of Town
5) Independence Day
6) The Promised Land
7) Prove It All Night
8) Racing In The Street
9) Thunder Road
10) Meeting Across The River
11) Jungleland
12) Kitty's Back
13) Fire
14) Candy's room
15) Because The Night
16) Point Blank
17) Not Fade away
18) She's The One
19) Backstreets
20) Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
21) 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
22) Born To Run
23) 10th avenue Freeze-Out
24) Detroit Medley
25) Raise Your Hand
Not too shabby.
I mean, let's say, for the sake of argument, this was the September 19th show from '78. Here's your setlist:
1) Badlands
2) Streets Of Fire
3) Spirit In The Night
4) Darkness On The Edge Of Town
5) Independence Day
6) The Promised Land
7) Prove It All Night
8) Racing In The Street
9) Thunder Road
10) Meeting Across The River
11) Jungleland
12) Kitty's Back
13) Fire
14) Candy's room
15) Because The Night
16) Point Blank
17) Not Fade away
18) She's The One
19) Backstreets
20) Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
21) 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
22) Born To Run
23) 10th avenue Freeze-Out
24) Detroit Medley
25) Raise Your Hand
Not too shabby.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Ain't No Sunshine
Bill Withers performing his signature song on Old Grey Whistle Test back in '72...
Couple things of note here:
1) Bill's sweating up a storm.
2) Bill's wearing a peach colored turtleneck. Are 1 and 2 related? You make the call.
3) Bill's intro is fantastic. You don't hear terms like "the old jive broad" too much anymore.
4) The drummer. Wow. Where to begin on that cat? I want to party with that guy.
Couple things of note here:
1) Bill's sweating up a storm.
2) Bill's wearing a peach colored turtleneck. Are 1 and 2 related? You make the call.
3) Bill's intro is fantastic. You don't hear terms like "the old jive broad" too much anymore.
4) The drummer. Wow. Where to begin on that cat? I want to party with that guy.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wilco
Last summer I say Wilco at the Pines Theater in Western MA and it immediately became my favorite show to date. The current make up of the band (especially the additions of Glenn and Nels) are playing extremely tight. And of course, there is always the Tweedy/crowd relationship. IMHO, no one is better at it.
At Least That's What You Said
At Least That's What You Said
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Lip Gloss by Lil Mama
There's no way to know these things for sure but there's a good chance this is the greatest music video since the turn of the century...
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Chillin' With Jim Rice
Half price sale on scanners at Circuit City + a copy of the 1984 Red Sox Yearbook = this...
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Still Fighting It
Well, there's no way around it. These have been dark times for the once mighty 10 CFP. New posts are just completely non-existent at the moment. But, contrary to the rumors, we're not quite dead and buried yet.
Hadley and I took in the Boston Pops/Ben Folds show last night. And, while our ridiculously good seats from the 4th row didn't give us the greatest vantage point of the brawl in the 2nd balcony...
...we did have a sick view of Ben rocking the piano. Which was amazing. Although, even when he wasn't working the Steinway, it was still pretty damn impressive...
Hadley and I took in the Boston Pops/Ben Folds show last night. And, while our ridiculously good seats from the 4th row didn't give us the greatest vantage point of the brawl in the 2nd balcony...
...we did have a sick view of Ben rocking the piano. Which was amazing. Although, even when he wasn't working the Steinway, it was still pretty damn impressive...
Monday, April 16, 2007
He Has Me In Stitches
Happy Flooding! How I love the NHL playoffs without the Bruins in it...it allows me to flip between the Sabres-Isles and The Last Waltz with little consequence.
Anyway, here's some Bruins footage for you...or as YouTuber 'xclaimdotcom' calls it:
"Boston Bruins No.30 Gerry Cheevers "Cheesie"...the best NHL goalie of all time"
Well, that's a stretch. Regardless, check out the goalie style from the 70s....renegade is the word that comes to mind.
Classic
Let's all take a moment to stop and appreciate the brilliance of Bobby Brown....
The sneer. Double wristbands. Double thumbs in the pocket. Words can't even begin to describe how much this picture rules.
The sneer. Double wristbands. Double thumbs in the pocket. Words can't even begin to describe how much this picture rules.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Mr. Intellivision
Many of you probably remember George Plimpton, to the extent that you remember him at all, for his brilliant work in the role of psychologist Dr. Henry Lipkin in Good Will Hunting. ("No more shenanigans, no more tomfoolery, no more ballyhoo...") Others may know him as an author of many fine books including a handful, such as Paper Lion, recounting his attempts to masquarade as a professional athlete. Me? I remember him for "beating out" an infield hit on a slow roller to me in a Phillips Exeter alumni baseball game back in '94. What can I say? I didn't have the heart to gun down a guy in late 60's.
But one thing you probably don't remember about George is his turn as "Mr. Intellivision" back in the early-80's. Hell, I was an Intellivision junkie back then and even I can't remember him doing ads for it. But he did. Many of them. And, thanks to Youtube, we can watch beauties like this...
Wow. That's all I can say about that. Just a tour de force. A is clearly better than B. Mr. Intellivision is right about that. Neither one of them should be all that proud of themselves though. I mean, what the hell is that sound when the runner gets cut down at home on Intellivision? I think it's the same sound they used in "Frog Bog" when you caught a fly. Good God. Atari baseball? Holy crap. Kids used to play that? 4 bases on a green screen? Three bizarre fielders moving in tandem? What the f***? That is too funny.
On a side note, if you never had the priviledge to play Frog Bog, you have no idea what you're missing...
But one thing you probably don't remember about George is his turn as "Mr. Intellivision" back in the early-80's. Hell, I was an Intellivision junkie back then and even I can't remember him doing ads for it. But he did. Many of them. And, thanks to Youtube, we can watch beauties like this...
Wow. That's all I can say about that. Just a tour de force. A is clearly better than B. Mr. Intellivision is right about that. Neither one of them should be all that proud of themselves though. I mean, what the hell is that sound when the runner gets cut down at home on Intellivision? I think it's the same sound they used in "Frog Bog" when you caught a fly. Good God. Atari baseball? Holy crap. Kids used to play that? 4 bases on a green screen? Three bizarre fielders moving in tandem? What the f***? That is too funny.
On a side note, if you never had the priviledge to play Frog Bog, you have no idea what you're missing...
Monday, April 09, 2007
The Masters
Couple random thoughts on The Masters...
-I've heard multiple people talking about how they were glad Johnson won because "he can use the money more than Tiger." Couple things. First, can't you say that about essentially every athlete on the planet? I mean, who's in better financial shape than Tiger? But, also, can we all gain a little perspective here? Zach Johnson has made almost $9 million on Tour in his career. He's a multi-millionaire whether he won this week or missed the cut.
-Nice f-bomb from Stu Appleby after his tee shot on 8.
-I'll give Faldo about a B for his first year as the lead analyst for Masters coverage. Seemed like he was a little nervous at times but overall I thought he was fine. I think he'll only get better. Definitely gets credit for calling a non-Tiger win from the start, even if he did beat it into the ground.
-Shot of the day? I've got two. Goosen's iron out of the pine straw at 7 was ridiculous. And obviously, Johnson's chip on 18 was probably the most important shot. That took some serious stones after bogeying 17 and fanning his iron into the green. Honorable mention to Tiger for the 5-iron into 13 to set up eagle. Great shot but also very lucky to catch that ridge by less than a foot.
-Worst shot? Vijay rinsing his approach on 15 in the middle of the pond. One thing to hit it in the water there. That one wasn't even close though.
-I knew the "praise Jesus" stuff was coming from Zach Johnson when I saw someone in his gallery wearing a hat with a rhinestone cross. So that didn't surprise me. Nothing we haven't heard before. It would crack me up though (and this has also been discussed a million times so I'm not pretending to pawn this off as an original thought) if someone that lost went the other way and blamed Jesus. I think I'd piss my pants if I ever heard Tiger say, "you know what? There was nothing I could do today. Jesus made me play too much break on 16. Then he underclubbed me on 17 and forced me to hit it in the bunker. Thanks alot Jesus!"
Friday, April 06, 2007
Not Bad, Biff. Not Bad...
In case you were wondering what the guy who played Biff (Tom Walker) in the Back To The Future movies is up to these days, Youtube has the answer...
Gotta give credit where credit is due. That's actually pretty funny.
Gotta give credit where credit is due. That's actually pretty funny.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
It's Great To Be A Florida Gator...
In the wake of Florida's sweep of the football and basketball national championships, we offer this stat. In the last 2 years, going back to the start of the 2005 college football season, exactly two teams have beaten the Gators in Gainesville. That's it. Two home losses in the last two years combined. The football team has gone undefeated in The Swamp over that time. Basketball team went undefeated this year. You have to go back to 2/22/06 to find a home loss for them to Tennessee. South Carolina (2/4/06) was the other one.
Last football team to win in Gainesville? LSU on 10/9/04
Last non-SEC team to win in Gainesville? Louisville hoop on 12/11/04
To put it another way, say your a sophomore at UF in the class of '09. In your time on campus you've seen your football and basketball teams combine for a 51-2 home record and 3 national titles. Not too shabby.
Serving You Up
I apologize again for the lack of activity recently here at 10CFP. We do our best to add content but sometimes real life intervenes. In any event, I feel like we need a good dance battle or two to get the juices flowing this afternoon. Let's start with a little You Got Served for the masses...
And now let's take it up a notch...
And now let's take it up a notch...
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Vintage Gus
Just finished reading Bill Simmons' latest basketball blog (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/blog/index?name=simmons) in which he (rightly) buries CBS for their inexcusable decision to cut Gus Johnson from their March Madness coverage this week. Like everyone else, we're huge Gus fans here at 10CFP. And, since you can never go wrong with clips of him going bananas at the end of a tight game, here's my favorite Gus clip of all-time (which I haven't seen linked as often as some others) from Gonzaga-Florida, 1999....
Monday, March 19, 2007
Hey Now, Jeffs!
We here at 10CFP would like to extend a hearty congratulations to the newly crowned 2006-07 Division III NCAA Men's Basketball Champions...the mighty Lord Jeffs of Amherst College.
The game story is here...
http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/recaps/d3_0317_04/2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
Please Stop
As I opened the 2007 Red Sox Annual last night, the news started reporting a weather warning. Now, as I sit and read about the future of the Sox farm system... I look out the window and see a sheet of white. I feel like I have been had, with 70 degree weather early this week, baseball was on my mind. With our Ace extending fascinating insight ranging from his contract to his thoughts on CHB to how his change is doing, I am nipping at the bit for opening day. But now this. Mother nature decides to take a crap on my optimistic attitude and now I will have to go home and friggin shovel.
Side Note: I highly urge all Red Sox Fans to purchase the 2007 Red Sox Annual. It is by far the most in depth and thought provoking pre-season literature out there. I would push all Baseball fans in general to visit Schillings website... it is that good.
Side Note: I highly urge all Red Sox Fans to purchase the 2007 Red Sox Annual. It is by far the most in depth and thought provoking pre-season literature out there. I would push all Baseball fans in general to visit Schillings website... it is that good.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Lyrics Analysis (Things That Make You Go Hmmm...)
Been a while since we've done a lyrics analysis here at 10CFP. Let's jump back into it with this "classic" from C&C Music Factory. As always, my comments in red...
Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...
C&C Music Factory Featuring Freedom Williams
I was at the crib, sittin' by the fireplace
Drinkin' cocoa on the bear skin rug (I'm gonna go ahead and nominate those first two lines for "Best opening lyrics in the history of music." I mean,come on now. How can you top that?)
The door bell rang. Who could it be?
Thought to myself then started to shrug
Got to the door. Ding Dong. Who is it? (You seem genuinely perplexed by this whole thing. Why don't you just go ahead and end the suspense. Open the damn door.)
My girl's best friend had payed me a visit. ("Payed?" Come on, Lyrics World...you're better than that.)
Sly as can be, tight dress and all (I'm not sure "sly" is the right word.Her scheme, which you're about to drop on us, is awfully transparent.)
She knew that I was faithful. I really didn't have the gall. (Great line)
I tried to chilll. She made the move. (Lyrics World put the extra "l" in"chilll" and I'm glad they did. It belongs.)
Now I know my girlfriend wouldn't approve.
I didn't realize my girl was settin' me up
Yo, my girl didn't trust me. No! (Man, you can just feel the pain in his voice. That was cold, girl.)Yeah, but she lost control I wouln't take the bait.
I said chill baby baby chill baby baby wait (First of all, best line in the song. Just...awesome. But, also...did you really say that? Think about it. Think about the scenario. Then think of him dropping that exact line. Makes it even better.)
My girl bust in, Caught us creating a boom ("Creating a boom" is a phraseyou really don't hear enough.)
She said "Girlfriend"?
Things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm, hmm, hmm
Things that make you go hmm
Here's how it started
Just an example of how another brother can trample
Ruin your life, sleep with your wife (Dude, maybe your buddy's not the problem. I think it's your wife.)
Watch your behind
There was a friend of mine named Jay
Would come over late at night and say hey (Jay wasn't very articulate.)
I watched the fight. I thought it was alright.
'Cause me and Jay were really really tight (Wow. Those two lines might be the worst lyrics in music history. Horrible. Just horrible.)
So damned close we had the same blood type. (Yeah, you and several million other people. Minimum. If you're O+ or A+ then over 30% ofthe US population alone has the same blood type. Even if you have AB-, the most rare blood type, there are still at least 3 million matches in the US.)
Months went by and my wife got big (Can't say it in a more genteel way than that.)
We were havin' a child and I got another gig
So I let Jay move into the crib and chill (I think the damage is already done at this point anyway.)
He had his own room and helped pay the bills (I would hope he had his own room. Nice of him to help with the bills.)
The time had come (for the baby down to the scene)
It looked like Jay and I couldn't believe (OK, a)are you really going to be able to tell the baby looks like Jay in the delivery room? And b)assuming you could, is it really something that would make you go hmmmm? Seems more like something that would make you go apeshit.)
Before my eyes in the delivery room.
The things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
The things that make you go hmm, hmm, hmm
The things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
The things that make you go hmm.
Robbie Rob - break it down! (Always a good suggestion...)
Give it to me Give it to me Give it to me Give it to me (x7)
Give it to me Give it to me
Seventeen and I was havin' a ball
Eleventh grade and "Joe" I knew it all ("Joe I knew it all?" I'm not sure Lyrics World has that quite right. 17 year olds definitely think they know it all though. I agree with that part.)
I fell in love for the very first time
With this girl she really blew my mind
Inner sense and whole lotta class (Got to mean "innocence" here, no? Inner sense? That's crazy talk.)
Style that could give you whiplash (Oustanding)
We said hello and my heart beat stopped
She was the world and I was on top
Time went by, She filled my universe (Wait, so she's the world and you're the universe? I'm getting confused.)
We made love, She said I was the first
My boy kept tellin' me. Yo, I don't know
I think your girl's been playing tic tac toe (I bet Jay was involved.)
I'll ask my girl I know she only loves me
Wasn't I the one who took your viginity? (I love pop songs that rhyme "me" with "virginity.")The look on her face read sorrow and gloom
She said "Yeah, Why do you guys always ask that?" (That doesn't seem to rhyme but that's OK.)
(Chorus)
Things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
It's the things that make you go hmm
(Repeat Chorus)
Hey ladies
Have you ever had a man
Go away for business, come back with a tan
Comes home late at night from work
You cooked him dinner now you feel like a jerk
Sayin' he didn't have time to eat
And he's not even hungry, he wants to be treat (What? "Wants to be treat?" Has to be another Lyrics World error.)
To the bedroom he said his head hurts
You're only makin' love in radical spurts (What's wrong with that?)
Mysterious calls and the phone goes click
You say to yourself "I'm gonna hit him with a brick" (In the words of Ron Burgandy, "Boy, that escalated quickly...")
Ain't no way he could be cheatin' on me
I wonder who bought him those BVD's (Really wish I had never read that line.)
Dressed to a T to hang with the fellas
Over the guys and I'm getting jealous
Comin' home late smellin' like perfume (fume)
(Repeat Chorus x7) (In retrospect, was that really necessary? Repeating the chorus 7 times? I say no.)
Things that make you go hmmm...
Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...
C&C Music Factory Featuring Freedom Williams
I was at the crib, sittin' by the fireplace
Drinkin' cocoa on the bear skin rug (I'm gonna go ahead and nominate those first two lines for "Best opening lyrics in the history of music." I mean,come on now. How can you top that?)
The door bell rang. Who could it be?
Thought to myself then started to shrug
Got to the door. Ding Dong. Who is it? (You seem genuinely perplexed by this whole thing. Why don't you just go ahead and end the suspense. Open the damn door.)
My girl's best friend had payed me a visit. ("Payed?" Come on, Lyrics World...you're better than that.)
Sly as can be, tight dress and all (I'm not sure "sly" is the right word.Her scheme, which you're about to drop on us, is awfully transparent.)
She knew that I was faithful. I really didn't have the gall. (Great line)
I tried to chilll. She made the move. (Lyrics World put the extra "l" in"chilll" and I'm glad they did. It belongs.)
Now I know my girlfriend wouldn't approve.
I didn't realize my girl was settin' me up
Yo, my girl didn't trust me. No! (Man, you can just feel the pain in his voice. That was cold, girl.)Yeah, but she lost control I wouln't take the bait.
I said chill baby baby chill baby baby wait (First of all, best line in the song. Just...awesome. But, also...did you really say that? Think about it. Think about the scenario. Then think of him dropping that exact line. Makes it even better.)
My girl bust in, Caught us creating a boom ("Creating a boom" is a phraseyou really don't hear enough.)
She said "Girlfriend"?
Things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm, hmm, hmm
Things that make you go hmm
Here's how it started
Just an example of how another brother can trample
Ruin your life, sleep with your wife (Dude, maybe your buddy's not the problem. I think it's your wife.)
Watch your behind
There was a friend of mine named Jay
Would come over late at night and say hey (Jay wasn't very articulate.)
I watched the fight. I thought it was alright.
'Cause me and Jay were really really tight (Wow. Those two lines might be the worst lyrics in music history. Horrible. Just horrible.)
So damned close we had the same blood type. (Yeah, you and several million other people. Minimum. If you're O+ or A+ then over 30% ofthe US population alone has the same blood type. Even if you have AB-, the most rare blood type, there are still at least 3 million matches in the US.)
Months went by and my wife got big (Can't say it in a more genteel way than that.)
We were havin' a child and I got another gig
So I let Jay move into the crib and chill (I think the damage is already done at this point anyway.)
He had his own room and helped pay the bills (I would hope he had his own room. Nice of him to help with the bills.)
The time had come (for the baby down to the scene)
It looked like Jay and I couldn't believe (OK, a)are you really going to be able to tell the baby looks like Jay in the delivery room? And b)assuming you could, is it really something that would make you go hmmmm? Seems more like something that would make you go apeshit.)
Before my eyes in the delivery room.
The things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
The things that make you go hmm, hmm, hmm
The things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
The things that make you go hmm.
Robbie Rob - break it down! (Always a good suggestion...)
Give it to me Give it to me Give it to me Give it to me (x7)
Give it to me Give it to me
Seventeen and I was havin' a ball
Eleventh grade and "Joe" I knew it all ("Joe I knew it all?" I'm not sure Lyrics World has that quite right. 17 year olds definitely think they know it all though. I agree with that part.)
I fell in love for the very first time
With this girl she really blew my mind
Inner sense and whole lotta class (Got to mean "innocence" here, no? Inner sense? That's crazy talk.)
Style that could give you whiplash (Oustanding)
We said hello and my heart beat stopped
She was the world and I was on top
Time went by, She filled my universe (Wait, so she's the world and you're the universe? I'm getting confused.)
We made love, She said I was the first
My boy kept tellin' me. Yo, I don't know
I think your girl's been playing tic tac toe (I bet Jay was involved.)
I'll ask my girl I know she only loves me
Wasn't I the one who took your viginity? (I love pop songs that rhyme "me" with "virginity.")The look on her face read sorrow and gloom
She said "Yeah, Why do you guys always ask that?" (That doesn't seem to rhyme but that's OK.)
(Chorus)
Things that make you go hmm
Things that make you go hmm
It's the things that make you go hmm
(Repeat Chorus)
Hey ladies
Have you ever had a man
Go away for business, come back with a tan
Comes home late at night from work
You cooked him dinner now you feel like a jerk
Sayin' he didn't have time to eat
And he's not even hungry, he wants to be treat (What? "Wants to be treat?" Has to be another Lyrics World error.)
To the bedroom he said his head hurts
You're only makin' love in radical spurts (What's wrong with that?)
Mysterious calls and the phone goes click
You say to yourself "I'm gonna hit him with a brick" (In the words of Ron Burgandy, "Boy, that escalated quickly...")
Ain't no way he could be cheatin' on me
I wonder who bought him those BVD's (Really wish I had never read that line.)
Dressed to a T to hang with the fellas
Over the guys and I'm getting jealous
Comin' home late smellin' like perfume (fume)
(Repeat Chorus x7) (In retrospect, was that really necessary? Repeating the chorus 7 times? I say no.)
Things that make you go hmmm...
Friday, March 09, 2007
Shootout Goals
Apropos of nothing, here are eight of my favorite shootout moves from the youtube era in no particular order....
1) Pavel Datsyuk against Nashville. I've seen this one dozens of times and I still can't believe how bad he gets Vokoun to bite...
2) Marek Malik against Washington. This one's a bit over-rated in my book. It looks incredible if you've never played hockey but it's actually not that hard to do. There are plenty of guys who can pull it off. Trust me. But I still give him props for having the nads to pull it in one of the first shootouts in NHL history. Plus I love the reaction...
3) Henrik Zetterberg against Colorado. A lot of guys have scored on variations of this move but I like Zetterberg's best just for how smooth it is and how casual he is on the finish...
4) Ryan Getzlaf against Los Angeles. Harder than it looks in my book. Makes Garon completely buckle. Very nice...
5) Pierre-Marc Bouchard against Chicago. It's one thing to pull off the 360....thing I like about this one is that he's absolutely flying before he puts on the brakes and spins it in...
6) Sidney Crosby against Montreal. Just as cool as you like. The bottle-popper of all bottle-poppers...
7) Rob Shremp mix. Rob's kind of an underground internet legend for a handful of these kinds of goals. This is my favorite video of his...
8) Zach Parise against Toronto. A recent one. Love moves like this where a guy ends up with a wide open net....
1) Pavel Datsyuk against Nashville. I've seen this one dozens of times and I still can't believe how bad he gets Vokoun to bite...
2) Marek Malik against Washington. This one's a bit over-rated in my book. It looks incredible if you've never played hockey but it's actually not that hard to do. There are plenty of guys who can pull it off. Trust me. But I still give him props for having the nads to pull it in one of the first shootouts in NHL history. Plus I love the reaction...
3) Henrik Zetterberg against Colorado. A lot of guys have scored on variations of this move but I like Zetterberg's best just for how smooth it is and how casual he is on the finish...
4) Ryan Getzlaf against Los Angeles. Harder than it looks in my book. Makes Garon completely buckle. Very nice...
5) Pierre-Marc Bouchard against Chicago. It's one thing to pull off the 360....thing I like about this one is that he's absolutely flying before he puts on the brakes and spins it in...
6) Sidney Crosby against Montreal. Just as cool as you like. The bottle-popper of all bottle-poppers...
7) Rob Shremp mix. Rob's kind of an underground internet legend for a handful of these kinds of goals. This is my favorite video of his...
8) Zach Parise against Toronto. A recent one. Love moves like this where a guy ends up with a wide open net....
Every Breath You Take
What is the all-time worst remake of a song. There is constantly talk about best covers (Toots and the Maytals, Country Road), but I am trying to figure out the worst. This question popped in my head last night as I heard the P-diddy version of Every Breath You Take and that is pretty bad, but there is no way it's the worst.
What is the worst cover of all-time cover?
What is the worst cover of all-time cover?
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Old S.I. Review (April 12, 1993)
For this edition of Old S.I. Review we go with an April, 1993 issue celebrating North Carolina's NCAA title over Michigan in the Chris Webber timeout game. As always, let's begin at the beginning...Sign O' The Times
First indication we're looking at something from the early-90's? Within the first 5 pages we've already had appearances from Chris Sabo (with goggles), Vendela & Kathy Ireland. Strong start.
Letters
The first highlight from the Letters section is so good I'm just going to go ahead and transcribe the whole thing...
Air Ball?
Wait a minute! You finally give the Cleveland Cavaliers some overdue attention (Can The Cavs Finally Jam? March 15) and they come off as hayseeds from the set of Hee Haw. In Cleveland we love the Cavs as players and, more importantly, as upstanding citizens of our community. Lenny Wilkens will soon be the NBA's winningest coach, and Northeast Ohio knows him as the Knights of Columbus choice for Catholic of the Year. We respect Brad Daugherty for extolling the virtues of Cleveland and a college education on The Arsenio Hall Show. We love Mark Price for his all-out hustle, leadership and marksmenship on the court, and for the example he provides our young people at The Chapel in Akron. We relate to the blue-collar work ethic of Craig Ehlo and Hot Rod Williams's total unselfishness as our super sub, plus the toughness of all our role players - even Danny Ferry, with his continuing struggles.
You missed the hoop on this one. Air ball! The real story behind these Cavs is one of unspoiled and unselfish players who seem to like each other as people and as athletes. That cliche about family values really applies to this special team.
Lyle R. Pohly
Mogadore, Ohio
Wow. So many questions after reading that letter. Like, is that Brad Daugherty-Arsenio Hall footage up on youtube yet? What do you get for winning the Northeast Ohio Catholic of the Year award? And, finally, did Lyle really drop an "Air ball!" taunt in a letter to S.I.?
Moving on, two readers wrote in to comment on a recent article about Bulls GM Jerry Krause. One guy said he thanks Krause for every single Bulls victory and claims his accomplishments are underrated. The other guy calls him a mediocre GM and argues that the Bulls wouldn't be a .500 team without Jordan. You can decide which guy was more right in the final analysis.
Finally, Lawrence T. Stoogenke (great name) of Stamford, CT wrote in to question how Phoenix Suns fans could've left Walter Davis off of their 25th anniversary team. The starting 5, as voted by the fans, was Paul Westphal, Jeff Hornacek, Alvan Adams, Charles Barkley and Tom Chambers. I don't feel like doing a ton of research but that seems like a valid point. Davis is still the all-time leading scorer in Suns history I believe. I'd have ranked him and K.J. ahead of Hornacek.
Bring Back The Smythe
In the Scorecard section, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is praised for getting rid of the old division and conference names and replacing them with "more user-friendly" geographic ones. Screw that. I hated it then and I still hate it now. I'd much rather still have the Adams, Patrick, Norris and Smythe divisions. Not to mention the Wales and Campbell conferences. Who cares if the other way is more "user-friendly?"
Hatin' On Vinny
"Testaverde looks like a quarterback, acts like a quarterback, he even talks like a quarterback. But he's got the heart of a placekicker."
-quote from Tim McDonald in the Florida Times-Union after Vinny left Tampa to sign with Cleveland
Mike Tyson Report
What was Iron Mike up to in the spring of 1993, you ask? Well, he was in prison. And he was reportedly about to convert to Islam and change his name to Malik Abdul Aziz. Which, apparently, he did end up doing according to his Wiki page. Also, according to his Wiki page, Tyson has 7 children: Gena, Mikey, D'Amato, Rayna, Amir, Miguel and Exodus. Awesome.
UNC-Michigan Recap
The cover story by Alexander Wolff, on Carolina's victory over Michigan in the national title game, was focused more on Dean Smith's greatness than Chris Webber's timeout. The headlines and the pictures are on Webber. And there's an insert titled "I Cost Our Team the Game" all about it as well. But the main article was really focused much more on Smith and the Heels.
One thing that was kind of news to me is that Michigan led by 4 with about 4:00 left. I didn't remember that. I thought they were chasing most of the game. But the game was very back-and-forth according to the story. And Michigan actually had a double-digit lead at one point.
Couple good points, which Wolff mentions in the story, on the Webber/timeout stuff.....1)Webber almost definitely traveled before he even took the timeout. 2)UNC had a bunch of fouls to give so, even if he doesn't call that timeout, Michigan's going to have a hard time getting a shot away in the final 10 seconds.
Best part of the story? I nominate these lines...
There also abides in Smith much of the activist spirit that helped integrate lunch counters and campaigned for a nuclear freeze - the man who, like John Stuart Mill, believes that society is perfectible. The coach takes after the public man, and thus his teams are the product of constant refinement.
Gotta respect anyone that can work a John Stuart Mill reference into a game story.
Birth Of The Marlins
Some highlights from Tim Kurkjian's article on the first game in Florida Marlins history, a 6-3 win behind starter Charlie Hough over the Dodgers...
-First AB in Marlins history was Hough against Jose Offerman. Charlie fanned him on 3 pitches.
-From 1982-1989 only Jack Morris won more games in the majors than Hough which, having lived through the 80's, seems semi-impossible to me.
-As of the article, Hough was the only pitcher in major league history to throw at least 375 innings both as a starter and a reliever.
-Chuck Carr, described as "an accomplished breakdancer," claimed he would steal 100 bases and could play CF as well as Andy Van Slyke. So, basically, he was biting Willie Mays Hayes' routine 4 years after Majoe League came out. Didn't do as well as Willie either. Chuck stole 58 bases in '93 which was the only time in his career he cracked 32 steals.
-Pitcher Bob McClure wrote a book called Rotting: The Craze of the 90's. According to Bob the book's about "doing nothing, looking like you're doing nothing, but not feeling guilty about it." It's currently unavailable on Amazon....
http://www.amazon.com/Rotting-Craze-90s-Rott-McClure/dp/0533092094/ref=sr_1_1/103-7848951-2299816?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173150023&sr=8-1
There is one customer review though. From 1998.
-SS Alex Arias used to rub a "red-haired voodoo Trool Doll" for good luck.
More Expansion '93 Tidbits
-Based on the records of previous expansion teams S.I. predicted that neither the Marlins nor the Rockies would have a winning season until at least 2000. Both beat that prediction with ease. The Rockies had 3 winning seasons in a row starting in 1995, including a wild card appearance. And, of course, the Marlins won the World Series in 1997.
-A blurb on Mile High Stadium, the Rockies' home for the 1993 season, speculates on whether the altitude would create a big home-field advantage. No mention of the impact it would have on offensive numbers as a whole though.
Sounded Good At The Time
In an article about the NFL free agency season being marked by numerous big-money deals for O-linemen, comes this this quote from Colts GM Jim Irsay...
"It's been a land rush to get the linemen. But we've got a franchise quarterback in Jeff George, and we're determined to protect our investment."
A year later George was shipped to Atlanta.
Muggsy
Moving on, the next story is a 3-page profile on Muggsy Bogues which, among other things, features a sublime picture of Muggsy trying to set a screen on Bill Laimbeer. I also enjoyed these two quotes from the story...
"People always say we'll probably never see another Larry Bird. But I've always felt we a better chance of seeing another Larry Bird than we do another Muggsy Bogues. Nobody has ever done what Muggsy is doing. And you really don't get the full effect of Muggsy until you go up and stand next to him."
-Hornets coach Allan Bristow
(You can debate the Bird-Bogues stuff all you like. I'm just enjoying the phrase "full effect of Muggsy.")
"Will a midget really bother Patrick Ewing?"
-Former Hornets coach Dick Harter, speaking from his hands and knees, mocking Muggsy and explaining to reporters why he didn't use Muggsy to front Ewing in certain defensive sets.
(Sadly, to this day, I'm not sure we've ever adaquetly answered this question. It's one of life's great mysteries.)
Sounded Good at the Time, Part II
In a story about Rock Newman, manager of then-Heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, Rock is quoted as saying...
"We're on a roll. The wind's at our back. Everything we've touched has turned to gold."
While the 3 Evander Holyfield fights would ultimately define his career, Bowe would lose the title to Holyfield in their second fight about 7 months after this quote.
Letdown
Biggest disappointment of the issue is probably the one-page "Sports People" story about Shawn Bradley going on his Mormon mission prior to joining the NBA. Surprisingly bereft of any interesting anecdotes. A close runner-up is a big feature story on the history of ceremonial first pitches in major league baseball. Pretty boring for the most part.
NBA Coach Predictions
Finally, let's wrap things up by seeing how successful S.I. was in predicting which NBA coaches had the best chances of getting fired in April of '93....
Most Likely To Go - Ron Rothstein, Pistons
(Rothstein was fired at the end of the '93 season)
On The Bubble - Rick Adelman, Trail Blazers; Bob Hill, Pacers; Randy Pfund, Lakers; Jerry Sloan, Jazz
(Adelman lasted one more year before he was fired. Bob Hill was fired at the end of the season. Randy Pfund lasted until the end of the next season, when he was replaced by Magic Johnson. Jerry Sloan is still coaching the Jazz and is currently the 4th winningest coach in NBA history.)
Resigned To New Roles - Don Nelson, Warriors; Wes Unseld, Bullets
(Nelson lasted two more years in Golden State before jumping to the Knicks. Wes lasted one more year in Washington before getting the axe.)
Safe (Maybe) - Fred Carter, 76ers; Garry St. Jean, Kings; Bob Weiss, Hawks
(Carter was canned at the end of the '94 season. St. Jean lasted until 1997 with the Kings. Weiss went the way of Rothstein, getting fired at the end of the '93 season.)
So, by and large, the predictions were pretty solid. Only big misfire was Jerry Sloan.
Past S.I. reviews
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2007/01/old-si-review-february-5-1990.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/11/old-si-review-november-21-1988.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-december-6-1993.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-december-8-1980.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-october-21-1991.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/09/old-si-review-june-26-1989.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/11/old-si-review-november-21-1988.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-december-6-1993.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-december-8-1980.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-october-21-1991.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/09/old-si-review-june-26-1989.html
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sega On Your Mobile
See for yourself.
If they unleash 94, I am going to call my insurance company and let them know I will be rear ending five cars, smashing into three trees, and scoring 15 with Mogilny against the Whalers.
If they unleash 94, I am going to call my insurance company and let them know I will be rear ending five cars, smashing into three trees, and scoring 15 with Mogilny against the Whalers.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
He's Drinking a Frappe Down Cellar
I found myself at a sub shop the other day deciding whether I wanted an Italian or a Meatball parm. After weighing the pros and cons of each decision, I decided to go with the Italian. I put in my order and ask them to load it up. I turn around to start the same selection process at the chip rack and realize that the guy behind the counter is not done with me yet. He asks me if I want a roll or a wedge. I reply “a what”, he says “a wedge”… I am pretty puzzled at this point, but in an effort discover what the hell is occurring and end the current stand off I was in, I go with the wedge. Turns out it is just a sub, which I got me thinking about the whole sub category in general. Is there any other food group that has so many aliases? I thought I had heard them all, then “Wedge” gets thrown at me. Are there more variations beyond this that I have yet to come across? Well, hopefully some of you here can help me avoid any future situations where I stand in front of a sub shop employee feeling like Paris Hilton in a monastery. I have now come across:
-The Submarine (Sub)
-The Hero
-The Grinder
-The Hoagie
-The Po’boy
-The Wedge
Furthermore, what other food/drink names are dependent on their geographic resting point. Well, after doing some google research I found myself at this website that compiles surveys analyzing dialect dispersion around the country. Some other categories I found entertaining are listed below
Thick drink made with Milk and Ice Cream:
-Frappe
-Milkshake
-Cabinet
-Velvet
-Thick Shake
Now, here at 10CFP it is a Frappe and it will always be so, but more than 96% of the people surveyed call it a Milkshake, which is just chocolate syrup and milk in our book. And I have never heard of it being called a Cabinet and Velvet.
Sweetened Carbonated Beverage
-Soda
-Pop
-Coke
-Tonic
-Soft Drink
-Cola
-Fizzy Drink
-Dope
-Other (2.5)
These are all familiar with the exception of Dope and if you are calling it Fizzy Drink and are over the age of 8, then you have some issues to deal with.
I guess the difference in dialect always intrigued me because I did not know I had such a distinct one until I was in college. Instantly after I arrived people began asking me what the hell everything I said meant. Words like cellar, rubbish barrel, elastic, bubbler (the fountain water you hippie), rotary, clicker, packie, jimmies, breakdown lane and hoodsies all rendered looks of confusion. It is a great moment when you first start to realize that you know very little and will be learning so much.
Friday, February 23, 2007
More Globe Archive Stuff (Tom Glavine, Hockey Player, Edition)
Couple more teasers from the Boston Globe archives. These are all from March of 1984 and serve as testimony to Tom Glavine's hockey ability. First teaser is from the recap of Billerica's 10-2 win over Weymouth North in the EMass Quarterfinals...
DIVISION 1 HOCKEY\ BILLERICA WALLOPS WEYMOUTH NORTH\ BYLINEBY JERRY HIGGINSGLOBE CORRESPONDENT
Published on March 10, 1984
It was supposed to be a showcase of two of the better centers around in Weymouth North's Kevin Heffernan and Billerica's Tom Glavine.
What it turned out to be was a good old fashoned whupping as Billerica jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and coasted to a 10-2 romp over Weymouth North in the Eastern Mass. Division 1 quarterfinals last night at BU's Walter Brown Arena.
Three days later the Globe ran this story on Glavine winning the Carlton Award...
GLAVINE WINS CARLTON AWARD\ BILLERICA SENIOR CENTER CITED FOR HOCKEY, ACADEMIC ABILITY
Published on March 13, 1984
Author(s): Larry Ames Globe Staff
Tom Glavine, one of the finest athletes to come out of Billerica High in the past few years, is the winner of the second annual John Carlton Memorial Award.
The award is given by the Boston Bruins to a high school senior who combines exceptional hockey skills with academic excellence. Glavine will receive the award Saturday between periods of the Bruins' game against the New Jersey Devils at the Boston Garden.
Glavine, a center, was the leading scorer in Eastern Mass....
And, finally, here's the teaser from Billerica's loss to my alma mater, St. John's Prep, in the EMass semis....
ST. JOHN'S EARNS FINAL REMATCH
Published on March 14, 1984
Author(s): Jerry Higgins Globe Correspondent
For the fifth time since the Eastern Mass. hockey finals were split into Divisions 1 and 2 in 1972, there will be an all-Catholic Conference final in Division 1 at Boston Garden.
And, for the fourth time, it will mark the third meeting of the year between Matignon and St. John's Prep.
Last night, the Prep got balanced scoring and hot goaltending to ward off Billerica, 5-3, in the semifinals at the Garden.
DIVISION 1 HOCKEY\ BILLERICA WALLOPS WEYMOUTH NORTH\ BYLINEBY JERRY HIGGINSGLOBE CORRESPONDENT
Published on March 10, 1984
It was supposed to be a showcase of two of the better centers around in Weymouth North's Kevin Heffernan and Billerica's Tom Glavine.
What it turned out to be was a good old fashoned whupping as Billerica jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and coasted to a 10-2 romp over Weymouth North in the Eastern Mass. Division 1 quarterfinals last night at BU's Walter Brown Arena.
Three days later the Globe ran this story on Glavine winning the Carlton Award...
GLAVINE WINS CARLTON AWARD\ BILLERICA SENIOR CENTER CITED FOR HOCKEY, ACADEMIC ABILITY
Published on March 13, 1984
Author(s): Larry Ames Globe Staff
Tom Glavine, one of the finest athletes to come out of Billerica High in the past few years, is the winner of the second annual John Carlton Memorial Award.
The award is given by the Boston Bruins to a high school senior who combines exceptional hockey skills with academic excellence. Glavine will receive the award Saturday between periods of the Bruins' game against the New Jersey Devils at the Boston Garden.
Glavine, a center, was the leading scorer in Eastern Mass....
And, finally, here's the teaser from Billerica's loss to my alma mater, St. John's Prep, in the EMass semis....
ST. JOHN'S EARNS FINAL REMATCH
Published on March 14, 1984
Author(s): Jerry Higgins Globe Correspondent
For the fifth time since the Eastern Mass. hockey finals were split into Divisions 1 and 2 in 1972, there will be an all-Catholic Conference final in Division 1 at Boston Garden.
And, for the fourth time, it will mark the third meeting of the year between Matignon and St. John's Prep.
Last night, the Prep got balanced scoring and hot goaltending to ward off Billerica, 5-3, in the semifinals at the Garden.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
From the Boston Globe Archives....
I've been amusing myself no end this afternoon by searching the Boston Globe's online archives. So much so that I went ahead and bought a 25-article pass, by all accounts a horrible bargain, for the right to download a few of my choice. I'll definitely keep the citizens of Freeze Pop Land updated if I come across anything noteworthy. For now, enjoy this teaser for a 1982 column from the venerable Mike Barnicle...
MIKE BARNICLE\ I WAS JUST THINKING . . .'
Published on November 26, 1982
Author(s): Mike Barnicle
Not that it really matters, but:
Nancy Reagan had two turkeys in her house yesterday.
Stewardesses aren't as pretty as they used to be.
Diet Coke is a great drink.
Tab tastes like soap.
Pro football is as exciting as unloading a dishwasher.
John Glenn could be my President.
And things are so bad that even Bob Dole is looking good.
But Alan Cranston looks like E.T.
MIKE BARNICLE\ I WAS JUST THINKING . . .'
Published on November 26, 1982
Author(s): Mike Barnicle
Not that it really matters, but:
Nancy Reagan had two turkeys in her house yesterday.
Stewardesses aren't as pretty as they used to be.
Diet Coke is a great drink.
Tab tastes like soap.
Pro football is as exciting as unloading a dishwasher.
John Glenn could be my President.
And things are so bad that even Bob Dole is looking good.
But Alan Cranston looks like E.T.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Of Babies & Brady's
In honor of Tom Brady becoming a father I feel like it's only appropriate to post this...
It's hard to pick a most ridiculous part. Is it the kazoo intro? Is it the outfits? Is it the faux Jan? Is it the synchronized swimming? Tough to say.
It's hard to pick a most ridiculous part. Is it the kazoo intro? Is it the outfits? Is it the faux Jan? Is it the synchronized swimming? Tough to say.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Young Shaq Throws It Down
All the Oden/Durant talk lately reminds me that I've been meaning to post this video I saw of Shaq blocking a shot and going coast-to-coast in the 1989 McDonald's All-American game...
I think Dickie V. may have literally had an orgasm after the dunk.
I think Dickie V. may have literally had an orgasm after the dunk.
Lyrical Foolishness
I always thought Vanilla Ice was the leader in the clubhouse when it came to most ridiculous claims in a single song. (Witness such lines as, "turn off the lights, and I'll glow" and "if my rhyme was a drug I'd sell it by the gram.") But my sister Amy and I were discussing Air Supply the other night (within the context of someone singing one of their songs on American Idol) and the thought occurred that, with the song Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, they might just have Vanilla licked. I mean, take a gander at these beauties....
MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL (Air Supply)
MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL (Air Supply)
I know just how to whisper
And I know just how to cry
I know just where I find the answers
And I know just how to lie
I know just how to fake it
And I know just how to scheme
I know just when to face the truth
And then I know just when to dream
And I know just where I touch you
And I know just what to prove
I know when to pull you closer
And I know when to let you loose
And I know the night is fading
And I know the time’s gonna fly
And I’m never gonna tell you everything I gotta tell you
But I know I’ve got to give it a try
And I know the roads to riches
And I know the ways to pain
I know all the rules and then I know how to break’em
And then I always know the name of the game
But I don’t know how to leave you
And I’ll never let you fall
And I don’t know how you do it
Making love out of nothing at all
Making love
Out of nothing at all
Making love
Out of nothing at all
Making love
Out of nothing at all
Making love
Out of nothing at all
Making love
Out of nothing at all
Making love
Out of nothing at all
Everytime I see you, well the rays of the sun are all
Streaming through the waves in your hair
And every star in the sky is taking aim at your eyes
Like a spotlight
The beating of my heart is a drum and it’s lost
And it’s looking for a rhythm like you
You can take the darkness from the deep of the night
And turn it to a beacon burning endlessly bright
I gotta follow it ‘cause everything I know
Well, it’s nothing ‘till I give it to you
I can make the runner stumble
I can make the final block
And I can make every tackle at the sound of the whistle
And I can make all the stadiums rock
I can make tonight forever
Or I can make it disappear by the dawn
And I can make you every promise that’s ever been made
And I can make all your demons be gone
But I’m never gonna make it without you
Do you really wanna see me crawl ?
And I’m never gonna make it like you do
Making love out of nothing at all
Making love
Out of nothing at all...
Friday, February 02, 2007
Will the streak continue
The Celtics are going to hit the hardwood tonight in pursuit for their 14th straight loss. I am not sure which is a more impressive feat, the Suns' winning streak or the Celtics losing one. History tells us it is harder to lose a lot of games in a row. The longest losing streak is 23 games, while the Lakers won 33 straight in the 71-72 season. The best part for us Celtics fans is we actually get to cheer on this puppy. With Oden and Durant in mix this year, I hope they lose 30 straight.
Side note: That Duke/Virgina game was great entertainment last night. Sean Singletary is really exciting to watch and the Cavaliers, in my opinion, have the best backcourt in the nation. Singletary's one-handed fade away over McRoberts for the game winner was great, but the entire game he showed why he has the best handle on the ball in the country.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
They Say I Look Like Hasselhoff
This site is pretty cool. You throw a picture of yourself or anybody for that matter and it gives you a bunch of celebrities that have similar facial features. There is a boat load of other things you can do on the site as well.
Who Am I
Rollin' With Kid 'N Play
I don't have many regrets in life but one regret I do have is that I absolutely used to pull out the move displayed at the :49 seconds-remaining mark of this video at high school dances....
I'm not proud of it. But it happened.
At least I didn't go for the flat-top...
I'm not proud of it. But it happened.
At least I didn't go for the flat-top...
Mid-Semester Review
I decided to revisit the “what am I watching” post from earlier this fall. I gave a fairly long list of shows that I would try give a shot and now I want to see how the delivered:
Original Post:
Heroes: It seems to be well written. I really liked the opener and will watch it until it loses me. This is what happens every year and by October this list is cut in half.
Lost: No need to explain. Either you watch it or you don't
Studio 60: I loved the opener. I really did. I thought Pete was overacting a little, but lets be honest here... it's Amanda "Can I take my shirt of now?" Pete. Second show was not as good, but we love Sorkin and think this will work.
The Office: If you don't watch it, leave. Ahh, don't speak.. just walk away and never return.
Kidnapping: Not sure why I am watching this one, but I am.
The Amazing Race: The Family Edition almost killed the show. It was awful, but they come back this year with some killer teams (2 already eliminated). They have the couple, 2 years into it and deciding if they should make the next step, that absolutely hates each other. They have (had) 2 groups of very attractive women. Miss New York and Miss Cali are still in it, the spunky cheerleaders are gone. They have a lady with one leg. They have a middle aged giddy gay couple, that provide serious comedic entertainment. They have a father and daughter duo, where the father cries in disappointment about his daughter being gay. Two Country Bumpkins from Kentucky who have no idea where they are. They may win; they think they are still in Kentucky. It is amazing. Good cast, I am in.
Friday Night Lights: Machon liked High School.
30 Rock: Alec Baldwin, enough said.
Watching because of Machonette:
Greys Anatomy
Dancing with the Stars
Gilmour Girls
Desperate Housewives
Well to start off, I picked a fairly good lineup considering how many shows have been axed at this point. Everything is still on or finished the season except Kidnapping, which as you can see, I was barely with it anyway. Now for the mid semester review:
Heroes: It is well written and each show has been had numerous “get the F**k out of here” moments. They found a way to take the comic book concept and make it appealing on a mass level. They came out firing the first half of the season with “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World”, then did something most shows today don’t and answered that question. Now the question is “Are You on the List?”
Lost: It’s tough to say because we only saw the first 6 episodes, but as I have posted before… I thought they were great. That being said, they real party begins next Wednesday.
Studio 60: It has been very blah, but I still watch it. It is becoming increasingly clearer that Amanda Peet can’t act and her value rises drastically when she is taking her shirt off.
The Office: Anyone who reads visits 10CFP on a semi-consistent basis knows how we feel about this show.
Kidnapping: Axed and it wasn’t even that bad. It just wasn’t that good either and without the start power of a Studio 60, it was only a matter of time.
The Amazing Race: Well, it was what you would think. It was a race around the world with some good teams, some annoying ones, but carried your attention for an hour. The gay couple should have stuck around longer though; their final episode may go down as one of the best AR moments ever.
Friday Night Lights: This show is actually very good. The football scenes are poorly done, but the casting, writing and acting have been extremely solid. The thing is, and Hadley and I talked about it the other day, this show and every other show about sports could be significantly improved if they hired a sport analyst to help them out. A couple episodes ago they have the Panthers go for it on 4th and 8 from their own 40. The point of the play and the episode for that matter, is for it to be the QB’s turning point. All they had to do was have someone with a little bit of football knowledge on the staff and have the line of scrimmage be the other teams 40 and it makes sense. 4th and 8 from the opponents 40, that’s a play every team would at least consider going for it. This would avoid pissing off every football fan who watches the show. I mean crap like this happens all the time and drives viewers away and the actual games are not even a major plot mover.
30 Rock: As stated before, Baldwin is in it. Also, one of our pal’s sister will be on the show next week, be sure to tune in. She actually has a speaking scene with Baldwin and as I told him, if she amounts to nothing else after this… she will always be able to say she traded lines with Alec Baldwin.
And of course I watch 24, mostly because I am scared Jack Bauer would shoot my knee caps off if I didn’t.
It’s been a good year on the tube thus far, and I have no longer any obligation to watch the shows Machonette was pushing. This is a huge added bonus.
Original Post:
Heroes: It seems to be well written. I really liked the opener and will watch it until it loses me. This is what happens every year and by October this list is cut in half.
Lost: No need to explain. Either you watch it or you don't
Studio 60: I loved the opener. I really did. I thought Pete was overacting a little, but lets be honest here... it's Amanda "Can I take my shirt of now?" Pete. Second show was not as good, but we love Sorkin and think this will work.
The Office: If you don't watch it, leave. Ahh, don't speak.. just walk away and never return.
Kidnapping: Not sure why I am watching this one, but I am.
The Amazing Race: The Family Edition almost killed the show. It was awful, but they come back this year with some killer teams (2 already eliminated). They have the couple, 2 years into it and deciding if they should make the next step, that absolutely hates each other. They have (had) 2 groups of very attractive women. Miss New York and Miss Cali are still in it, the spunky cheerleaders are gone. They have a lady with one leg. They have a middle aged giddy gay couple, that provide serious comedic entertainment. They have a father and daughter duo, where the father cries in disappointment about his daughter being gay. Two Country Bumpkins from Kentucky who have no idea where they are. They may win; they think they are still in Kentucky. It is amazing. Good cast, I am in.
Friday Night Lights: Machon liked High School.
30 Rock: Alec Baldwin, enough said.
Watching because of Machonette:
Greys Anatomy
Dancing with the Stars
Gilmour Girls
Desperate Housewives
Well to start off, I picked a fairly good lineup considering how many shows have been axed at this point. Everything is still on or finished the season except Kidnapping, which as you can see, I was barely with it anyway. Now for the mid semester review:
Heroes: It is well written and each show has been had numerous “get the F**k out of here” moments. They found a way to take the comic book concept and make it appealing on a mass level. They came out firing the first half of the season with “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World”, then did something most shows today don’t and answered that question. Now the question is “Are You on the List?”
Lost: It’s tough to say because we only saw the first 6 episodes, but as I have posted before… I thought they were great. That being said, they real party begins next Wednesday.
Studio 60: It has been very blah, but I still watch it. It is becoming increasingly clearer that Amanda Peet can’t act and her value rises drastically when she is taking her shirt off.
The Office: Anyone who reads visits 10CFP on a semi-consistent basis knows how we feel about this show.
Kidnapping: Axed and it wasn’t even that bad. It just wasn’t that good either and without the start power of a Studio 60, it was only a matter of time.
The Amazing Race: Well, it was what you would think. It was a race around the world with some good teams, some annoying ones, but carried your attention for an hour. The gay couple should have stuck around longer though; their final episode may go down as one of the best AR moments ever.
Friday Night Lights: This show is actually very good. The football scenes are poorly done, but the casting, writing and acting have been extremely solid. The thing is, and Hadley and I talked about it the other day, this show and every other show about sports could be significantly improved if they hired a sport analyst to help them out. A couple episodes ago they have the Panthers go for it on 4th and 8 from their own 40. The point of the play and the episode for that matter, is for it to be the QB’s turning point. All they had to do was have someone with a little bit of football knowledge on the staff and have the line of scrimmage be the other teams 40 and it makes sense. 4th and 8 from the opponents 40, that’s a play every team would at least consider going for it. This would avoid pissing off every football fan who watches the show. I mean crap like this happens all the time and drives viewers away and the actual games are not even a major plot mover.
30 Rock: As stated before, Baldwin is in it. Also, one of our pal’s sister will be on the show next week, be sure to tune in. She actually has a speaking scene with Baldwin and as I told him, if she amounts to nothing else after this… she will always be able to say she traded lines with Alec Baldwin.
And of course I watch 24, mostly because I am scared Jack Bauer would shoot my knee caps off if I didn’t.
It’s been a good year on the tube thus far, and I have no longer any obligation to watch the shows Machonette was pushing. This is a huge added bonus.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Keys to a Long Commute
I have recently been thrown into a long commute and to begin with, it certainly is not any fun. That being said, there are some things that help and I have decided to outline these in our little space on the interweb-Ipod. Of course you say. Well it’s not just the music that gets you thru these long hauls. If you have the Ipod video, you can listen/watch the office on the way in, which kills about 22 minutes very quickly. If you don’t have the video, I strongly urge you to utilize some Pod Casts… keeping in theme with the Office, the Ricky Gervais Pod Cast kills time quickly
-Pretending you are 300 laps into the Indy 500. I mean really putting yourself into that mind set. I am talking about two hands on the wheel, body leaning into the turns, getting behind other cars and then using them to speed ahead at the opportune moment. I am actually thinking of installing those NASCAR seat belts into my car. You know the ones that hold you into your seat like a Baby Bjorn.
-Befriending other drivers. I like to find a buddy on the road early on. Then you have a running little competition for the remainder of the drive. The tough part is getting other people to buy into your game… I find the DeNiro “I’m watching you” finger point works the best.
-Traffic Reports. For me, 1010 is on the 2’s and 880 is every tenth (is that how you say that?). They work well enough and are a must listen for anyone who drives to work in a city. However, if they don’t already offer a system that not only tells you where the traffic is, but other routes to take, they should make it. It could be a cell phone service or an in-car device. Once you realize there is traffic it loads up three alternate routes with all important info on those. Do they have these?
-Timing. If you really want to avoid traffic, leaving before 7 is a must. I take off at 6:45 and have about a quart of coffee by 6:50. If this doesn’t keep me awake, I go with the Ace Ventura head out the window routine. Nothing wakes you up faster than shoving your melon outside of a moving vehicle in 18 degree weather.
-Radio. I always like to listen to once news segment (usually take 20 minutes) and a little sports radio. Everyone has their opinion on Mike & Mike, but either way… it passes time.
-Knowing how to drive quickly. There are two types of people; those who drive fast and get tickets and the rest of us. The key here is to drive fast with other cars that are driving fast. If you look are cruising past cars for 15 minutes and not part of a heard, chances are you are sticking out and nothing throws a wrench into a morning commute like getting pulled over and handed a piece of paper that let’s you know you can donate two hundred bucks to the state.
-EZPASS/FASTLANE. This one is pretty self explanatory.
-And most importantly, settling for the fact you are going to be in the car for a while. This is crucial, if you are constantly stressing out about the traffic or time on the road… you have no chance. I always thought that the worst drive was the hour and a half to two hour drive. I’d rather drive for 5 hours, because you get yourself into that “Ok, lets pack the car with food and start planning out the musical journey” mind frame when you know you will be in the car for a lengthy period of time. However, after a while you can get the same mindset with the hour and a half drive and it makes all the difference.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Follow The Bouncing Puck
Great thing about the internet is that I saw this goal on live TV Saturday night and knew it would be posted somewhere within a day or two. This is from the 2nd game of a weekend series between North Dakota and Minnesota....
Friday, January 26, 2007
Old S.I. Review (February 5, 1990)
For this review I decided to grab the first late-January, early-February issue out of a pile to see what was going on this time of year in the past. The issue that came up was this one from 1990 celebrating the 49ers' 4th Super Bowl title. Let's open it up and start plowing through...Letters
Most of the Letters section is devoted to reader feedback and opinion at the conclusion of the 1989-90 college football season. And, as usual, most people were pissed off. But not everyone. Reader Stuart Wood, from California (naturally), was ready to drop the rankings, have everyone join hands, and sing Kumbaya. To wit...
"This season fans nationwide had reason to celebrate good football. No team is clearly No. 1, so let's call it a winning season for college football and leave it at that."
Sadly for Stuart, they did award a national championship in 1990. And it went, somewhat controversially (there were 4 one-loss teams that year), to the U. A couple readers wrote in to dispute the #1 ranking but the bigger outcry was over Miami's attitude and swagger...
"After watching hours of bowl games and hearing hundreds of statistics on almost every conceivable subject over the recent bowl season, the only question I still have is this: How does the University of Miami afford all the mustard for so many hot dogs?"
-Don Dunn (Booneville, Ark.)
"As a young football coach, recently removed from my college playing days, I find your approval of Miami's antics disturbing. The finger-waggling, talking trash and "silly little dances" have no place on the playing field. That's what cheerleaders are for."
-Mike Godfrey (Seneca, Mo.)
I'm not sure that's what cheerleaders are really for either but point taken, Mike. My favorite letter, however, has nothing to do with Miami. It's from a Tennessee fan...
"The inclusion of Southern Cal in your final Top Five ranking of college football is a joke. Tennessee would beat USC like a drum. Ask UCLA which team it would rather play."
-H. Bruce Guyton (Knoxville, Tenn.)
First of all, love the name H. Bruce Guyton. But what I really love is that H. Bruce took the time to rattle off a letter about who finished #5 in the final SI poll. That's great. Suffice it say that H. Bruce from Knoxville and Stu Wood from California have a slightly different take on the importance of college football. (For the record...Tennessee beat UCLA 24-6 in the opening game of the '89 season, while USC could only manage a 10-10 tie against the Bruins in the finale. Hence, the UCLA line.)
Super Bowl Leftovers
Couple tidbits from the Super Bowl Scorecard section...
-S.I. pretty much nailed it's Hall of Fame predictions for the, at the time, current 49ers dynasty. Said they wouldn't get many. Montana, Lott and Rice were locks. Bill Walsh was probable. Roger Craig was a maybe. That's basically right. Usually when they predict stuff like that there's always a glaring mistake or two.
-Eddie DeBartolo gets a mention for noting that the 49ers "lost a little bit" of money in 1988 and would be lucky to turn a small profit in 1989. Kind of interesting knowing what we know about Eddie now.
-Not losing money were the hotels in New Orleans during Super Bowl week in '90. Le Pavilon, where the Broncos stayed, jacked the price from $69/night to $240/night with a 4-night minimum for Super Bowl week.
-Not sure why it was in this section but there's also a brief blurb about Karl Malone. Seems The Mailman was upset about getting snubbed for the All-Star Game (the fans voted A.C. Green ahead of him) so he decided to take it out on his next opponent, the Milwaukee Bucks, to the tune of 61 points and 18 rebounds in 33 minutes. After the game, which the Jazz won 144-96, Bucks coach Del Harris remarked, "I knew Karl wanted to make a statement. I just didn't know he was going to write a whole book."
Joe Montana Is The Balls
That's basically the main point of the feature article. Nothing too exciting to be honest. Just a lot of (admittedly deserved) talk about how great the offense was against Denver. How they all felt ridiculously confident going into the game after watching the Broncos on film. A dejected John Elway saying, "can't you let a guy sulk in peace," to the paparazzi after the game. A smattering of Matt Millen quotes. Picture of Joe Montana holding up a picture of his daughters in the locker room. Picture of Joe Montana walking onto the field. Picture of Joe Montana scrambling. Picture of Joe Montana talking to Steve Young and Steve Bono at halftime. Picture of Joe Montana eating a hamburger with his dad in the trainer's room after the game. That's about all.
Nine & Nine
From the story on Media Day comes this factoid...As of 1990 Joe Montana, Kenny Stabler and Terry Bradshaw had combined for 9 Super Bowl rings and 9 wives.
The Rise of UConn
Outside a largely unnecessary 3-page story on Jack Nicklaus joining the Senior Tour, the first story after the Super Bowl stuff focuses on a tight Big East race and the emergence of the UConn Huskies. Some highlights from that piece...
-Several mentions of the immortal Nadav Henefeld, described as "a deft outside shooter with the passing and pilfering skills of a much smaller man." The story also describes how "the man they call The Dove" was not rattled by the "lewd woofing" of Alonzo Mourning in a win over Georgetown.
-Another immortal, St. John's Malik Sealy, is summarized in two words..."willowy finesse." Which, if you saw him play in college, kind of makes sense.
-Jayson Williams (the same Jayson Williams who was involved in that incident with the limo driver that was killed with a shotgun on his property) is mentioned in a blurb about St. John's winning at Providence, a place that hadn't be kind to the Redmen in recent years. Oddly enough, this is how he's mentioned...
"Two years ago we lost and I ended up in jail," said Williams, who had been charged with assault - the charge was later dropped - for chucking a chair at a spectator that evening. "Tonight we won, and I'm free."
More College Hoop
Skipping relatively boring articles on the retirement of legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker and the Australian Open (won by Ivan Lendl and Steffi Graf) we come to the College Basketball Report, which includes the following...
-Clarence "Big House" Gaines is profiled after joining Adolph Rupp in the 800-win club. Got to respect a man with the nickname "Big House." 800 wins is a hell of a lot of wins too.
-In the SEC write-up is a note about LSU blowing an 11-point lead to Georgia in the final 5 minutes of a game thanks to missing the front-end of 10 straight one-and-ones.
-Also in the SEC write-up is this bit on the state of the Florida Gators...
Florida, a preseason pick to contend with LSU for the SEC title, thanks largely to 7'2" center Dwayne Schintzius and 6'7" forward Livingston Chatman, staggered into Baton Rouge for last Saturday's game without those frontliners. Chatman had quit the team on Jan. 14, claiming he was "burned out." Last week Schintzius joined him, even though a student review board had forgiven him for his role in a fraternity-house fracas on Jan. 13. DeVoe, however, said he wouldn't take Schintzius back from a suspension that began on Jan. 15 unless he lost weight and got a haircut. Schintzius got a trim, then quit anyway."
-And, finally, The Small College Player of the Week was Shawnee State's Joe Smith. Among his accomplishments for the week were 19 points in an 88-87 defeat of Dyke College. Insert your own joke here.
Past S.I. reviews
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/11/old-si-review-november-21-1988.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-december-6-1993.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-december-8-1980.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/10/old-si-review-october-21-1991.html
http://homeofthedory.blogspot.com/2006/09/old-si-review-june-26-1989.html
Baseball is Better Now
Dan Fox over at Baseball Prospectus wrote a great article looking at, among other things, why the game of baseball has improved over the past century. Most of it is fairly obvious, but he goes in some depth about it and presents an interesting read. The evidence he came up with was:
-The increasing size and changing demographics of the talent pool
-The evidence of increased athletic prowess in sports with absolute rather than relative accomplishments
-The standardization and increased efficiencies in strategies and styles of play
-Better technology and medical care
-Decreasing variation in measures such as batting average as a sign that player skills are moving toward the "right wall" of human ability
-Direct (albeit) relative measurement along multiple metrics including relative EqA, fielding statistics, and pitcher hitting
Seems about right, but the reason I am wanted to share the article was one chart in particular. He looked at the average age and weight of players at their debut, in each decade:
Average Height and Weight By Decade of Debut
Decade Height (in) Weight (lb)
1870s ----68.9------162.9
1880s-----69.8 ------170.0
1890s-----70.2------171.7
1900s-----70.7------174.4
1910s-----71.0------172.5
1920s-----71.1------173.6
1930s-----71.8------179.6
1940s ----72.2------183.0
1950s ----72.6------186.1
1960s----72.9------188.3
1970s----73.1------188.5
1980s----73.3------191.2
1990s----73.5------193.7
2000s----73.7 -----196.8
So nearly 30 pounds heavier and 4 inches taller...
Read the article, he looks at whether or not the increase in bulk of players is directly correlated with the decrease in triples. I thought it was a pretty interesting read
-The increasing size and changing demographics of the talent pool
-The evidence of increased athletic prowess in sports with absolute rather than relative accomplishments
-The standardization and increased efficiencies in strategies and styles of play
-Better technology and medical care
-Decreasing variation in measures such as batting average as a sign that player skills are moving toward the "right wall" of human ability
-Direct (albeit) relative measurement along multiple metrics including relative EqA, fielding statistics, and pitcher hitting
Seems about right, but the reason I am wanted to share the article was one chart in particular. He looked at the average age and weight of players at their debut, in each decade:
Average Height and Weight By Decade of Debut
Decade Height (in) Weight (lb)
1870s ----68.9------162.9
1880s-----69.8 ------170.0
1890s-----70.2------171.7
1900s-----70.7------174.4
1910s-----71.0------172.5
1920s-----71.1------173.6
1930s-----71.8------179.6
1940s ----72.2------183.0
1950s ----72.6------186.1
1960s----72.9------188.3
1970s----73.1------188.5
1980s----73.3------191.2
1990s----73.5------193.7
2000s----73.7 -----196.8
So nearly 30 pounds heavier and 4 inches taller...
Read the article, he looks at whether or not the increase in bulk of players is directly correlated with the decrease in triples. I thought it was a pretty interesting read
About Time
Red Sox and J.D Drew finally reach a deal after 7 weeks. Man, that took a long time.
The language is similar to that in Magglio Ordonez's deal with the Detroit Tigers. Boras and the players' association agreed that if the Red Sox exercise their rights under that language, neither Drew nor the union would contend that the language is unenforceable.
So the Sox took their time and now have a deal in place with a saftey net. Rotoworld explains what came out of the 2 month negotiation nicely:
If Drew goes on the disabled list with a right shoulder problem in the third year of the deal, the Sox can void the final two years of the contract. If he is disabled in the fourth year, the Sox can void the final year of the deal.
I am very happy with this signing overall. They have a guy who will be more productive than Nixon and tagged some insurance onto the deal in the end. Well played IMO. That really sets up our front of the lineup, now to get a closer.
The language is similar to that in Magglio Ordonez's deal with the Detroit Tigers. Boras and the players' association agreed that if the Red Sox exercise their rights under that language, neither Drew nor the union would contend that the language is unenforceable.
So the Sox took their time and now have a deal in place with a saftey net. Rotoworld explains what came out of the 2 month negotiation nicely:
If Drew goes on the disabled list with a right shoulder problem in the third year of the deal, the Sox can void the final two years of the contract. If he is disabled in the fourth year, the Sox can void the final year of the deal.
I am very happy with this signing overall. They have a guy who will be more productive than Nixon and tagged some insurance onto the deal in the end. Well played IMO. That really sets up our front of the lineup, now to get a closer.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Craftmatic Adjustable Bed
Wow. A colleague of mine is looking for some furniture and we were half-jokingly looking at the “free” category on craigslist, which is often an event in itself. One of the postings was for a 2 year old Craftmatic Adjustable Bed. This, to me, seemed funny… so we dug a little deeper, checked out some of the customer testimonials and opened up a gold mine of comedy:
"The Craftmatic Bed is a godsend, really, really, really!"
-Really?
"Thank you and the people at Craftmatic for resolving the problem for my wife with her feeling the springs in our mattress. As you suggested, I called customer service and we have been sent two pillow tops which have resolved the problem. It is good to find a company that backs up its products with quick and efficient service. Thank you again for your prompt, courteous and quick resolution of the mattress problem. It is good to know that at least Craftmatic takes the problems of its customers seriously. Each day is a precious gift."
-Who is the first person he is thanking? Also, I think that last line may be taking it a bit to far... I mean it's a f'n bed.
"I would buy my Craftmatic Bed right now if I were you. Don't do what we did and wait years because you're going to get so many benefits out of having the bed. I'd recommend the Craftmatic Bed to anybody. It's an investment in good sleep, good rest, and good health, and good sex!"
-Well, you are not me and that last line just made me throw up in my mouth.
"I don't have any regrets concerning my Craftmatic Bed. In fact, we're thinking about buying another Craftmatic Bed!""We did go out and look at flat beds. At box springs and mattresses and headboards. And after we looked at all of them and added them all up, it was so close to what I paid for my Craftmatic Bed, that I'd have been a fool to buy anything else."
-Two, why in gods name would you buy another one? Your children certainly don't need this thing... is this going in the guest room?
Lyrics Question
Can someone explain to me what the 2nd verse of Mr. Jones is all about...
I will paint my picture
Paint my self in blue and red and black and grey
All of the beautiful colors are very very meaninful
(You know) Grey is my favorite color
I felt so symbolic yesterday
If I knew Picasso
I would buy myself a grey guitar and play
Especially the Picasso part.
I will paint my picture
Paint my self in blue and red and black and grey
All of the beautiful colors are very very meaninful
(You know) Grey is my favorite color
I felt so symbolic yesterday
If I knew Picasso
I would buy myself a grey guitar and play
Especially the Picasso part.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Bauer Hour
Why would anyone not listen to what Jack Bauer has to say at this point? I think that every single new president, advisor, or any one else who works in a position of power on 24 should be forced to sit down and watch all the previous seasons on DVD before they make any decisions moving forward. The guy's track record is spotless... he kills with out a blink of the eye and puts the damned country before everything else in his life. AHH...
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Mixtape #2
Before I rattle off my list I have to mention this exchange between Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock two weeks ago...
Tracy: I'm gonna make you a mix tape. You like Phil Collins?
Baldwin's character: I've got two ears and a heart, don't I?
On to my list....
1975: Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
1976: Silly Love Songs - Wings
1977: Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti
1978: Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb
1979: Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
1980: Coming Up - Paul McCartney & Wings
1981: Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
1982: Don't You Want Me - Human League
1983: Flashdance...What A Feeling - Irene Cara
1984: When Doves Cry - Prince
1985: Sussudio - Phil Collins
1986: There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) - Billy Ocean
1987: I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
1988: Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
1989: Baby Don't Forget My Number - Milli Vanilli
1990: Step By Step - New Kids On The Block
1991: Rush Rush - Paula Abdul
1992: Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot
1993: That's The Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson
1994: I Swear - All-4-One
1995: Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman - Bryan Adams
1996: Tha Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
1997: I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy
1998: The Boy Is Mine - Brandy & Monica
1999: If You Had My Love - Jennifer Lopez
2000: Be With You - Enrique Iglesias
2001: U Remind Me - Usher
2002: Hot In Herre - Nelly
2003: This Is The Night - Clay Aiken
2004: Burn - Usher
2005: Inside Your Heaven - Carrie Underwood
2006: Do I Make You Proud - Taylor Hicks
That list sucks and it stinks and it sucks. Three American Idols? Ugh.
Tracy: I'm gonna make you a mix tape. You like Phil Collins?
Baldwin's character: I've got two ears and a heart, don't I?
On to my list....
1975: Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
1976: Silly Love Songs - Wings
1977: Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti
1978: Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb
1979: Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
1980: Coming Up - Paul McCartney & Wings
1981: Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
1982: Don't You Want Me - Human League
1983: Flashdance...What A Feeling - Irene Cara
1984: When Doves Cry - Prince
1985: Sussudio - Phil Collins
1986: There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) - Billy Ocean
1987: I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
1988: Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
1989: Baby Don't Forget My Number - Milli Vanilli
1990: Step By Step - New Kids On The Block
1991: Rush Rush - Paula Abdul
1992: Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot
1993: That's The Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson
1994: I Swear - All-4-One
1995: Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman - Bryan Adams
1996: Tha Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
1997: I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy
1998: The Boy Is Mine - Brandy & Monica
1999: If You Had My Love - Jennifer Lopez
2000: Be With You - Enrique Iglesias
2001: U Remind Me - Usher
2002: Hot In Herre - Nelly
2003: This Is The Night - Clay Aiken
2004: Burn - Usher
2005: Inside Your Heaven - Carrie Underwood
2006: Do I Make You Proud - Taylor Hicks
That list sucks and it stinks and it sucks. Three American Idols? Ugh.
Mixtape
With the talk about pop music a couple posts ago, I got to thinking about pop music in my lifetime. If I were to create a mix tape of my life, songs I was listening to each year growing up, would it look anything like the charts. The answer is a resounding no. I went through the billboards for the past 25 years and checked out which song was number one on my birthday, each year. This is what I found:
1: “Eye of the Tiger” - Survivor
2: “Every Breath You Take” - The Police
3: “Ghostbusters” - Ray Parker Jr.
4: “The Power of Love” - Huey Lewis and the News
5: “Papa Don’t Preach” – Madonna
6: “Whose that Girl” – Madonna
7: “Roll with it” – Steve Winwood
8: “Right Here Waiting” – Richard Marx
9: “Vision of Love” – Mariah Carey
10: “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” – Bryan Adams
11: “End of the Road” – Boyz II Men
12: “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” – UB40
13: “Stay” – Lisa Loeb
14: “Waterfalls – TLC
15: “Macarena” – Los Del Rio
16: “I’ll Be Missing You” – PDiddy
17: “The Boy is Mine” - Brandy and Monica
18: “Genie in a Bottle” – Christina Aguilera
19: “Incomplete” – Sisqo
20: “Fallin’” – Alicia Keys
21: “Dilemma” – Nelly
22: “Crazy in Love” – Beyonce and Jay-Z
23: “Lean Back” – The Terror Squad
24: “We Belong Together” – Mariah Carey
25: “London Brigde” – Fergie
Ok. So just go ahead and cross off everything from 14 on. I mean, sure… I have heard these songs… but I have never voluntarily said to my self, “Someone better throw in Sisqo NOW or I’m going to lose my Freakin mind”. Is there really a mix worthy song on the list? If you were laying on your death bed years from now and your grandson asked you what songs were important to you growing up, would any of these be the songs? I mean, I love Ghostbusters as much as the next guy… but the song just does not define who I was, am, or ever will be. I think that people like music on different levels. There are those who like beat and bass, those use music to fill the blank void of silence, those who like what they are told to like, and then there are those of us who enjoy every aspect of music. There are those of us who genuinely relate what is going on in our lives to music they listen too. There is a relationship between a good musician and their fans, because the band is giving them something to think about within the content of a song. It doesn’t have to be sewn into the lyrics either, it’s in the melody and rhythm of a song. With the exception of one or two, I can’t believe that any of the songs on that list really connect with people on that level. It’s not that they are bad songs, they have their spot in the lineup… but to me, these types of songs don’t resonate beyond just being noise.
1: “Eye of the Tiger” - Survivor
2: “Every Breath You Take” - The Police
3: “Ghostbusters” - Ray Parker Jr.
4: “The Power of Love” - Huey Lewis and the News
5: “Papa Don’t Preach” – Madonna
6: “Whose that Girl” – Madonna
7: “Roll with it” – Steve Winwood
8: “Right Here Waiting” – Richard Marx
9: “Vision of Love” – Mariah Carey
10: “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” – Bryan Adams
11: “End of the Road” – Boyz II Men
12: “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” – UB40
13: “Stay” – Lisa Loeb
14: “Waterfalls – TLC
15: “Macarena” – Los Del Rio
16: “I’ll Be Missing You” – PDiddy
17: “The Boy is Mine” - Brandy and Monica
18: “Genie in a Bottle” – Christina Aguilera
19: “Incomplete” – Sisqo
20: “Fallin’” – Alicia Keys
21: “Dilemma” – Nelly
22: “Crazy in Love” – Beyonce and Jay-Z
23: “Lean Back” – The Terror Squad
24: “We Belong Together” – Mariah Carey
25: “London Brigde” – Fergie
Ok. So just go ahead and cross off everything from 14 on. I mean, sure… I have heard these songs… but I have never voluntarily said to my self, “Someone better throw in Sisqo NOW or I’m going to lose my Freakin mind”. Is there really a mix worthy song on the list? If you were laying on your death bed years from now and your grandson asked you what songs were important to you growing up, would any of these be the songs? I mean, I love Ghostbusters as much as the next guy… but the song just does not define who I was, am, or ever will be. I think that people like music on different levels. There are those who like beat and bass, those use music to fill the blank void of silence, those who like what they are told to like, and then there are those of us who enjoy every aspect of music. There are those of us who genuinely relate what is going on in our lives to music they listen too. There is a relationship between a good musician and their fans, because the band is giving them something to think about within the content of a song. It doesn’t have to be sewn into the lyrics either, it’s in the melody and rhythm of a song. With the exception of one or two, I can’t believe that any of the songs on that list really connect with people on that level. It’s not that they are bad songs, they have their spot in the lineup… but to me, these types of songs don’t resonate beyond just being noise.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Where is my FREAKING phone!!!
Couldn't agree more with Machon's evaluation of The Office lately. They're absolutely on fire right now. Great episode after great episode. In honor of this week we've got to post the cell phone prank...
"I don't trust you Phyllis!"
"I don't trust you Phyllis!"
Clearing My Mind
Things that I have been thinking about lately:
-Why were Starter jackets ever popular? I guess Starter was the first company to really co-brand their product with professional sport leagues and there is the whole “Tipping Point” theory. But the jackets made you look like Violet Beauregarde after chewing on Wonka's magic chewing gum.
-I can’t remember the last time I had a vanilla frappe/shake. I mean, for my first ten years I had an exclusive contract with vanilla and now I would never consider it. Maybe I should.
-What type of mother did LL Cool J have? Why was she telling him to go around knocking out people? Should someone have contacted social services?
-How the hell does the Nintendo Gun work? Someone tried to explain some reflective theory to me and I am sure it’s right… but doesn’t that seem a bit ahead of its time?
-I have a feeling a lot of people are going to lose quite a bit of money on the Bears/Saints game this weekend.
-Where does the current Office streak of phenomenal episodes stand in sitcom history? Since The Merger, every episode has been killer. Every single Thursday, you can count on sitting down at 8:30 and laughing your ass off.
-It’s nice that the Chargers have so many people going to the Pro-Bowl… with all the time to prepare, the AFC should win in a landslide. Now that’s a game I may bet on.
-How long until a Baseball Beckett is worth more than the cards in it? I was looking through one a couple weeks ago and my god… talk about demand falling quickly.
-I am getting used to this no snow thing on the east coast.
-Maybe it’s time for me to switch up my haircut. I have been saying “2 on the sides and take the top down” for 14 years. The problem is, I don’t know what else to say. Every time I go into get my haircut I am prepared to do something different. Then they ask me how I like it and I repeat verbatim the aforementioned sentence. The only other haircuts I know are: the whiffle, the flat top, and the fade and I sported one of those three every other year I have been alive. Any ideas here? Anything?
-Do people who listen to popular rap today like the same rap music that we do here. Do they listen to the latest Lil’ Wayne song, then pop in The Low End Theory? There was a divide in the early 1990’s in the hip-hop culture. About the same time the Biggie and Tupac stuff went down, it divided into two camps. Rap, with its crystal, 24 inch rims, and butchering of the English language, began to represent the genre at the mainstream level. This did not happen overnight, but it has happened. Hip-hop, the intellectual and socially driven form of the genre, submerged into the underground and now you either don’t know or you know. I wonder what type of world we would be living with if the two paths were switched. If A Tribe Called Quest never broke up and became what Wu-Tang was in the mid to late 90’s. I imagine things would be different if it were De La Soul, Tribe, and the Jungle Brothers were being played on local radio stations instead of Nelly, DMX, and Ludicrous. I think about that a lot.
-Why were Starter jackets ever popular? I guess Starter was the first company to really co-brand their product with professional sport leagues and there is the whole “Tipping Point” theory. But the jackets made you look like Violet Beauregarde after chewing on Wonka's magic chewing gum.
-I can’t remember the last time I had a vanilla frappe/shake. I mean, for my first ten years I had an exclusive contract with vanilla and now I would never consider it. Maybe I should.
-What type of mother did LL Cool J have? Why was she telling him to go around knocking out people? Should someone have contacted social services?
-How the hell does the Nintendo Gun work? Someone tried to explain some reflective theory to me and I am sure it’s right… but doesn’t that seem a bit ahead of its time?
-I have a feeling a lot of people are going to lose quite a bit of money on the Bears/Saints game this weekend.
-Where does the current Office streak of phenomenal episodes stand in sitcom history? Since The Merger, every episode has been killer. Every single Thursday, you can count on sitting down at 8:30 and laughing your ass off.
-It’s nice that the Chargers have so many people going to the Pro-Bowl… with all the time to prepare, the AFC should win in a landslide. Now that’s a game I may bet on.
-How long until a Baseball Beckett is worth more than the cards in it? I was looking through one a couple weeks ago and my god… talk about demand falling quickly.
-I am getting used to this no snow thing on the east coast.
-Maybe it’s time for me to switch up my haircut. I have been saying “2 on the sides and take the top down” for 14 years. The problem is, I don’t know what else to say. Every time I go into get my haircut I am prepared to do something different. Then they ask me how I like it and I repeat verbatim the aforementioned sentence. The only other haircuts I know are: the whiffle, the flat top, and the fade and I sported one of those three every other year I have been alive. Any ideas here? Anything?
-Do people who listen to popular rap today like the same rap music that we do here. Do they listen to the latest Lil’ Wayne song, then pop in The Low End Theory? There was a divide in the early 1990’s in the hip-hop culture. About the same time the Biggie and Tupac stuff went down, it divided into two camps. Rap, with its crystal, 24 inch rims, and butchering of the English language, began to represent the genre at the mainstream level. This did not happen overnight, but it has happened. Hip-hop, the intellectual and socially driven form of the genre, submerged into the underground and now you either don’t know or you know. I wonder what type of world we would be living with if the two paths were switched. If A Tribe Called Quest never broke up and became what Wu-Tang was in the mid to late 90’s. I imagine things would be different if it were De La Soul, Tribe, and the Jungle Brothers were being played on local radio stations instead of Nelly, DMX, and Ludicrous. I think about that a lot.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Flyers on PRISM
Got to love this clip for a number of reasons....
First and foremost...Cooperalls. Plus the vintage graphics. The music. Doc Emrick on the mic. A brief cameo by the Colorado Rockies. Top notch all the way around.
First and foremost...Cooperalls. Plus the vintage graphics. The music. Doc Emrick on the mic. A brief cameo by the Colorado Rockies. Top notch all the way around.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Girl Scout Cookies
Apparently, it's Girl Scout cookie time. My Mom called me the other day to let me know she's putting in an order and to see if I wanted anything. Which, of course, I do. There's a giant order form hanging up on the office fridge. And the train station near my house has been overrun for weeks with screaming girl scouts trying to drum up business.
As with almost everything, Wikipedia has some good info on Girl Scout cookies. In particular, I enjoyed their breakdown of the highest selling cookies from a recent season...
As of 2004, the best selling Girl Scout cookies are:
* Thin Mints (25% of total sales)*
* Samoas/ (19%)*
* Tagalongs/ (13%)*
* Do-si-dos (11%)*
* Trefoils/ (9%)*
Obviously, it's no surprise that Thin Mints are #1. Everyone loves Thin Mints. Show me someone that doesn't include Thin Mints in a Girl Scout cookie order and I'll show you someone I just don't trust. Thin Mints straight out of the freezer is about as great a cookie experience as you can have in my opinion.
As for the rest of the top sellers....I'm not a Samoas guy. Don't like coconut. People who like them are pretty fanatical though so I guess I can't begrudge them the 2-hole. After Thin Mints, Tagalongs are my second favorite Girl Scout cookie. Always thought they were a little underrated. Love the classic chocolate/peanut butter combo. Do-si-dos are those Oreo-style peanut butter sandwich cookies. Not a big fan. And Trefoils? Those are the plain ones with the creepy Girl Scout logo on them. Terrible. To steal an oft-used quote from my dad, "I wouldn't eat those with your mouth."
As with almost everything, Wikipedia has some good info on Girl Scout cookies. In particular, I enjoyed their breakdown of the highest selling cookies from a recent season...
As of 2004, the best selling Girl Scout cookies are:
* Thin Mints (25% of total sales)*
* Samoas/ (19%)*
* Tagalongs/ (13%)*
* Do-si-dos (11%)*
* Trefoils/ (9%)*
Obviously, it's no surprise that Thin Mints are #1. Everyone loves Thin Mints. Show me someone that doesn't include Thin Mints in a Girl Scout cookie order and I'll show you someone I just don't trust. Thin Mints straight out of the freezer is about as great a cookie experience as you can have in my opinion.
As for the rest of the top sellers....I'm not a Samoas guy. Don't like coconut. People who like them are pretty fanatical though so I guess I can't begrudge them the 2-hole. After Thin Mints, Tagalongs are my second favorite Girl Scout cookie. Always thought they were a little underrated. Love the classic chocolate/peanut butter combo. Do-si-dos are those Oreo-style peanut butter sandwich cookies. Not a big fan. And Trefoils? Those are the plain ones with the creepy Girl Scout logo on them. Terrible. To steal an oft-used quote from my dad, "I wouldn't eat those with your mouth."
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
Welcome to the Classy Parade
Wow.The emails are flying fast and furious today. Instead of a well-structured analysis, here are clips from Patriot emails that are zipping around about the unarmed robbery in San Diego:
- Sitting with the players' families was an experience. Much to write tomorrow, too drained now. For now, let me just say that after going to all 3 Super Bowl. W's this one was just a little different. Road game at a VERY loud stadium. Draining. What was unreal to me was that I had to tell all the pats families that the 2 point conversion would of course be the Faulk direct snap. That's the only 2 point play we have. How did the Chargers not know that was coming? Being at the game, especially in pats section, I still have yet to get explanation for why Marty didn't kick a FG in first qtr on 4th and 11 at our 30 or why he reviewed that fumble in the 4th qtr and blew a time out. Banta-Cains family and Graham's family said they are both gone in off season.
- That's my second favorite non-Super Bowl game ever, after the Snow Bowl. I could read stuff about this all day. I learned a few things:
1. You can beat the Chargers, that's okay. But DO NOT mimic the Lights Out dance. That's not acceptable.
2. Marty just challenged Kaeding's missed FG.
You Stay Classy, San Diego.
- Don’t forget, he was also attempting to give up ANOTHER time out before the 2 point conversion but the refs didn’t see it. As John said, how can you not be prepared for that? The two things you can’t allow if the Pats lineup for a two point conversion:
-The Faulk Direct Snap Play
-Not having D Linemen over the center gaps to allow Brady to sneak easy
Those are the two things you have to take away. If you do that, Brady will have to audible out of the first option.
- This is fantastic:
"And when the Pats’ thrilling, 24-21 divisional playoff win over the Chargers was in the books early last night, Rosevelt Colvin came off the field at Qualcomm Stadium with fire flying from his mouth.
“Shut the power off!” shrieked Colvin down a hallway to a group of Chargers players entering their locker room.
His voice echoed off the walls, and stadium security guards began to inch off their posts in anticipation of a Chargers player going at the Pats linebacker.
“It’s lights out!” continued Colvin, mocking the nickname of Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman. “See you next year, chumps!”"
-Colvin is a nasty bastard. I love it.
From Peter King:
b. LaDainian Tomlinson's fiery words about the Patriots. It's a great controversy for us. They sounded small coming from a guy who'd just tasted bitter defeat. And it is no mortal sin for a visiting team to imitate the sack dance of the hometown hero. Happens every week.
- Another favorite part: how about the Chargers fans going bonkers for the 15 yard celebration penalty! They thought they got a re-kick!
- Rosie's INT was a great play. GREAT play (should have had at least 5 tacked on maybe 15 too.)
-Love it...How the hell does this guy get away with not wearing a headset! "Hmmm, I wonder what Cam has called in this crucial 3rd down...can't wait to find out!"
- Let's just say that the pats family members aint the most knowledgeable crew. I called that Faulk 2 point conversion the moment they scored the TD. Yes they ran it from a different formation but its the only 2 point play they got. The crowd around me thought I was the Messiah when my prediction about the play call came to fruition. Every 3rd and long for SD and I would yell "it's Tully time", much to the ebulliation of the Banta-Cains.
- Crowd was LOUD. And relentless. at Gillette or the Meadowlands, the minute the road team gets a first down after being pinned back deep, the crowd goes comatose. In SD, they got up for every big play. Stadium, unlike its 70's multi-sport brethren, is nice.
- I need to watch the film tonight. Didn't graham have a drop?
- At tailgate, some guy with powder blue 21 jersey had direct tv so everyone is huddled around watching seahawks-bears. One guy in a 37 Shawn Alexander jersey is going bonkers and I turn to him and query politely why the hell he is in the parking lot huddled around a tv in lieu of being at home watching his team on a 50 inch plasma. He seemed puzzled by the query. California
- To answer Question 7. I believe the "broad" on the sidelines with Belichick was his long haired, pot smoking older son Steven.
- I think they abandoned the run not because they couldn't run at all but because it was impossible to pass without spreading the field. Play action would never work, ends were too fast. They also had to run plays before the play clock got inside 3 seconds or Merriman would time it. So, since they HAD to spread the field to run pass plays (and not make Brady go into a blind drop), it didn't make sense to run because you would need to shuttle people in and out every play and because it would be deathly obvious (maybe not to Marty) when a run was coming vs the spread for the pass. The play action was eliminated, thus the spread.
- I loathe Ben Watson
- After the absolutely startling conclusion, Chargers fans, as loud as they were all game, just politely walked out. Pats fans were screaming "we want peyton" and "yankees suck". At the meadowlands, I am loud all game but when filing out I take off the pats hat and zipper the sweatshirt over the pats jersey. Here, there was no trepidation. And, the fans at the meadowlands woulda been sitting in their seats for an extra 20 minutes stunned
- This Sunday, Brady = 17 attempts
- Meanwhile, can you guys imagine if they actually end up going to the Superbowl after letting Branch, Givens, Vinatieri and McGinnest walk, with Caldwell and Gaffney as their top receivers? We think BB is arrogant now? Fuhgettabout it. He'll be out of control. He'll trade Brady for a tight end so he can prove he can win with Cassell. I still don't know how the hell we won that game. Think Seattle would like a do over on the Branch trade. Sitting at home and the Pats have the 22nd pick - not bad. Although I wish we had Branch Sunday.
- 1:00 AM EDT on Monday, October 3, 2005 BY TOM E. CURRAN Providence Journal Sports WriterFOXBORO -- One after the other, sweaty, smiling members of the San Diego Chargers walked through the massive concrete artery that leads to the visitors locker room in Gillette Stadium. As they walked, tearing grass-stained tape from their hands, they gloated aloud about their just-finished, 41-17 hammering of the New England Patriots."That's a [butt]-whipping," said defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. "21-1, now," tackle Leander Jordan announced, referring to the Patriots' punctured 21-game home winning streak."[Bleep] New England and their team," suggested cornerback Drayton Florence. Florence then said to the collection of onlookers in the hallway. "Get the look of shock off your faces. Don't be shocked. We beat your [butt]."
- Wrong on Question 7. Daughter Amanda
Steve was in the parking lot, buying an ounce from a guy in a Nate Newton jersey
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